Nutrition

A nutritious diet that is right for you will largely depend on your age, size, gender, lifestyle, eating and food preferences and your overall health. Your perfect diet, therefore, is likely to be different with someone else with CMT. The best way for you to work out what is right for you is to talk to a state-registered dietitian. Your GP can refer you to one on the NHS (although this may take some time), or you can go privately.

The basis of a healthy and balanced diet, is one heavy on fruit and vegetables and light on fatty and sugary foods and drinks. In practical terms, for most people, this means:

Eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day

Basing your meals and snacks on starchy foods such as bread, breakfast cereals, potatoes, rice, noodles, oats, pasta, etc. But be careful not to add or cook them in too much fat.

Eating only a moderate amount of meat, fish and pulses – remembering to remove the skin from chicken and excess fat from meat and avoid frying.

Having three portions of dairy foods every day. (A portion is about a third of a pint of milk or a small pot of yoghurt, or 25g of cheese) Where possible choose reduced fat versions, like semi-skimmed milk and cottage cheese for example

Keep fatty and sugary foods to a minimum

Eat as little salt as possible. The recommended daily amount is 5 to 6 grams (about one teaspoon)

Avoid ready made (“convenience”) foods, as they can contain very high levels of sugar, fat and salt.

If you’re having trouble with keeping weight off, you can find some good information at the British Dietetic Association’s Weightwise website - www.bdaweightwise.com

CMT Myths

Over the past few years, you will have read that Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) was trialled as a possible treatment for CMT Type 1a. This DID NOT show any beneficial effect, so whilst it's always good to ensure that your intake of Vitamin C is up to the recommended daily intake, don't expect it to improve your CMT.

You may also find other websites (especially Facebook groups) that are advocating taking (and buying from them) various vitamins and minerals that are "curing" CMT. There is NO CLINICAL EVIDENCE for any of this rubbish, and they will do nothing except separate you from a lot of your hard-earned cash!